On this episode of Making It Personal, Bishop William Joensen and Jeanne Thill are joined by Maggie DeWitte, Executive Director of Pulse Life Advocates, for an in-depth conversation about current pro-life efforts in Iowa and across the nation.

Maggie reflects on her experience accompanying Iowa youth to the national March for Life, highlighting the energy of young participants and the importance of continuing education and witness for the dignity of human life.

The discussion also explores major legislative initiatives in Iowa, including proposals addressing abortion-pill safety regulations and efforts to legally recognize life at conception. Maggie explains the growing medical concerns surrounding chemical abortions and why advocates are seeking stronger safeguards for women and unborn children.

The conversation turns toward prayerful action during Lent, including participation in the international 40 Days for Life campaign, sidewalk advocacy training, and ongoing parish involvement in supporting mothers and families facing difficult pregnancies.

Looking ahead, Maggie also previews the organization’s upcoming fall gala featuring actor Jim Caviezel, known for his roles in The Passion of the Christ and Sound of Freedom.

This episode offers listeners a timely look at how faith, public policy, prayer, and personal witness work together to advance a culture of life.

Learn more about Pulse Life Advocates:
https://pulseforlife.org

Find local 40 Days for Life campaigns:
https://www.40daysforlife.com

#MakingItPersonal #IowaCatholicRadio #BishopJoensen #CatholicRadio #MaggieDeWitte #PulseLifeAdvocates #ProLife #CultureOfLife #40DaysForLife #CatholicAdvocacy #FaithInAction #Lent

Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows:

• Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe
• Be Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian Moncada
• Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
• Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen
• Man Up! with Joe Stopulus
• Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
• The Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo Bonner
• The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
• The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
• Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle

Want to support your favorite show? Click Here

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On this episode of Making It Personal, Bishop William Joensen and Jeanne Thill sit down with Mike Iverson, Director of Discipleship for Spiritus Ministries and a recent speaker at the national SEEK Conference in Columbus, Ohio, attended by over 17,000 young adults.

Mike shares insights from his powerful talk, “Ten Ways to Feel Less Anxious About the Future,” addressing what many call the “anxious generation.” From cultural pressures and social media noise to the deeper spiritual struggle of believing we are “not enough,” Mike offers a Gospel-centered response rooted in identity, prayer, and trust in God’s providence.

The conversation explores:

Why Gen Z experiences heightened anxiety

The cultural lie that we are “not enough”

The difference between God’s voice, our internal monologue, and the voice of the enemy

The power of the Ignatian Examen

How prayer grounds us before major life moments

Practical guidance for entering Lent with intentionality

Mike also shares his own journey from Protestant ministry to the Catholic Church and how Spiritus Ministries forms young adult missionaries to ignite faith in Catholic youth.

As Ash Wednesday approaches, this episode is a timely reminder: God has not left His throne — and we do not face the future alone.

Learn more about Spiritus Ministries at spiritusministries.org.

#MakingItPersonal
#BishopJoensen
#IowaCatholicRadio
#MikeIverson
#SpiritusMinistries
#SEEKConference
#CatholicYoungAdults
#FaithOverFear
#AnxiousGeneration
#TrustInGod
#LentPreparation

Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows:

• Be Not Afraid with Fr. PJ McManus
• Be Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian Moncada
• Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
• Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen
• Man Up! with Joe Stopulus
• Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
• The Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo Bonner
• The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
• The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
• Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle

Want to support your favorite show? Click Here

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On this episode of Making It Personal, Bishop William Joensen and Jeanne Thill are joined by Emily Welch Smith, Director of Philanthropy for Central Iowa Shelter & Services (CISS). Together, they explore the growing needs of individuals experiencing homelessness in Central Iowa and the vital work being done to provide shelter, stability, and long-term empowerment.

Emily shares the inspiring origins of CISS, founded by a coalition of local churches, and explains how the organization has grown into a comprehensive support center offering far more than emergency housing. Services include job training, meals open to the public, a community clothing closet, food pantry, and the innovative Empowerment Command Center, where clients receive help with resumes, healthcare access, identification documents, and housing resources.

The conversation also highlights the deep connection between homelessness and mental illness, the challenges of bitter winter weather, and how the shelter serves as an official warming center during weather amnesty.

In the closing reflections, Bishop Joensen connects this mission to the Gospel call of Matthew 25 and the upcoming World Day of the Sick, reminding listeners that Christian charity is not passive but a decision to draw near with mercy and love.

To learn more or volunteer, visit centraliowashelter.org.

#MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicRadio #FaithInAction #CentralIowaShelter #EmilyWelchSmith #ServeThePoor #Matthew25 #HomelessOutreach #CatholicCharity #HumanDignity #WorldDayOfTheSick

Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows:

• Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe
• Be Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian Moncada
• Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
• Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen
• Man Up! with Joe Stopulus
• Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
• The Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo Bonner
• The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
• The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
• Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle

Want to support your favorite show? Click Here

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of Making It Personal, Bishop William Joensen and Jeanne Thill are joined by Deacon Eric and Monica Pugh of St. John the Apostle Parish in Norwalk. Together, they share a moving story of faith, conversion, and God’s providence leading them into deep service within the Church.

Eric reflects on being raised Catholic, drifting away from the faith, and later rediscovering the beauty and mystery of the Mass—especially through the Eucharist. Monica, who was not raised Catholic, describes how Catholic radio, Scripture, and the book Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic opened her heart to the truth of the Real Presence and led her into full communion with the Church.

The conversation also highlights Eric’s military service, their life as parents of five sons, and the surprising call to the diaconate that eventually became a shared vocation of ministry. Today, Deacon Eric leads a men’s group focused on understanding the Mass, while Monica serves as Director of Faith Formation and continues pursuing spiritual direction and theological study.

This inspiring episode is a testament to the power of saying “yes” to God, the centrality of the Eucharist, and the many ways Christ continues to call ordinary people into extraordinary discipleship.

#MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicRadio #CatholicFaith #DeaconEricPugh #MonicaPugh #ConversionStory #EucharisticRevival #RealPresence #CatholicMinistry #FaithFormation #MenOfFaith #SerraVocations

Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows:

• Be Not Afraid with Fr. PJ McManus
• Be Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian Moncada
• Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
• Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen
• Man Up! with Joe Stopulus
• Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
• The Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo Bonner
• The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
• The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
• Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle

Want to support your favorite show? Click Here

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of Making It Personal, Bishop William Joensen and Jeanne Thill are joined by Tom Chapman, Executive Director of the Iowa Catholic Conference, to examine the legislative priorities facing the Iowa General Assembly as a new session begins.

Together, they explore how Catholics are called to engage public life with charity and prudence, addressing key issues such as the dignity of human life, abortion-pill regulation, maternal and family support, education policy, health care access, immigration, property taxes, and eminent domain. Tom offers insight into the changing dynamics at the Capitol, the role of people of goodwill across party lines, and how Catholic social teaching helps guide moral reflection on complex public issues.

Bishop Joensen also reflects on upcoming diocesan events, Christian unity, Catholic Schools Week, vocations initiatives, and the importance of prayerful advocacy. This episode offers listeners a clear and faithful framework for understanding how discipleship informs civic responsibility.

#MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicRadio #FaithAndPublicLife
#TomChapman #IowaCatholicConference #CatholicAdvocacy #PublicSquare #ProLife #CatholicEducation #HumanDignity #CommonGood

Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows:

• Be Not Afraid with Fr. PJ McManus
• Be Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian Moncada
• Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
• Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen
• Man Up! with Joe Stopulus
• Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
• The Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo Bonner
• The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
• The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
• Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle

Want to support your favorite show? Click Here

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On this episode of Making It Personal, Bishop William Joensen and Jeanne Thill are joined by Christine Rosen, Senior Editor of The New Atlantis and author of The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World. Together, they explore how digital technologies—while offering convenience and novelty—are quietly reshaping our understanding of self, community, and reality.

Christine reflects on the growing loss of essential human experiences such as face-to-face communication, a sense of place, authentic emotion, and even boredom. She examines how constant mediation through screens can lead to alienation and control, particularly affecting young people who are growing up immersed in a digital-first culture.

Bishop Joensen and Christine discuss what it means to reclaim our humanity by returning to the real world—recovering patience, serendipity, risk, and meaningful community—and where individuals and families can begin taking practical steps toward a more embodied, intentional way of living.

#MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicRadio #FaithAndCulture

Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows:

• Be Not Afraid with Fr. PJ McManus
• Be Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian Moncada
• Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
• Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen
• Man Up! with Joe Stopulus
• Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
• The Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo Bonner
• The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
• The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
• Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle

Want to support your favorite show? Click Here

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.